You’ve picked your cruising itinerary, found the perfect ship and can practically feel the salty air on your face. But before you book, one question stops you: when’s the best time to lock it in? Book too early, and you may miss a better deal. Book too late and you could lose your ideal cabin, along with the early-bird perks that come with it.
Timing matters more than ever. AAA projects cruise bookings will rise 4.5 percent in 2026, with 21.7 million Americans expected to set sail. The good news is you don’t have to guess. Smart cruisers follow a handful of proven strategies to land the right cabin at the right price, and AAA Travel Agents use these same playbooks every day. Here are seven of them.
1. Book During Wave Season (January–March)
Wave season runs from January through March and gets its name from the post-holiday surge of bookings that rolls in like a tide. Once the holidays wrap, travelers shift into vacation-planning mode and demand spikes. Cruise lines respond by rolling out their strongest offers of the year before the spring break rush.
Expect reduced fares, onboard credits, free cabin upgrades and bonus perks like prepaid gratuities or drink packages. Wave season works best for cruisers who plan ahead, but flexible travelers can still find solid last-minute deals during these months.
2. Lock In Popular Itineraries 6–18 Months Out
If you want the best balance of value, cabin choice and peace of mind, book early. Most cruise lines release itineraries 12 months in advance, and some open availability up to 18 to 20 months out. Booking in this window gives you first pick of cabins, which matters most for high-demand destinations like Hawaii, Alaska and the Mediterranean, where the best rooms sell out fast.
Early bookings also unlock perks, such as:
- Lower deposits
- Free or discounted cabin upgrades
- Priority access to specialty dining and onboard events that require reservations
- First pick of shore excursions
- Onboard credits for spa sessions, Wi-Fi or specialty dining
Booking six to 18 months out also gives you room to plan the rest of your life around the trip. Families can sync with school schedules and coordinate time off. Adults-only cruisers get the runway to lock in vacation days and plan special occasions. And everyone gets time to handle the practical stuff like pet care, mail holds and home maintenance before they leave.
3. Watch for Last-Minute Deals if You’re Flexible
If your calendar is open and you can pack on short notice, a last-minute booking is one of the best paths to budget-friendly cruising. Cruise lines would rather sell a cabin at a discount than sail with it empty, so unsold rooms often get marked down one to two months before departure. You might even score a balcony for the price of an interior cabin.
This strategy works best for solo travelers, retired couples and anyone who can travel on a flexible schedule. Just know there are tradeoffs. Airfare tends to cost more when booked at the last minute. Cabin selection shrinks as the sail date approaches, and during peak weeks, you may find limited availability for specialty dining or shore excursions. Go in with an open mind, and the savings can more than make up for it.
4. Time Your Booking to Your Destination
Where you cruise affects when you should book. Some destinations have short seasons and limited sailings, so cabins sell out fast. Others run year-round and give you more room to wait for a deal. Here’s a quick guide to the most popular cruise destinations and when to lock in your booking:
- Alaska: Book nine to 12 months out. The best time to cruise to Alaska is May through September, and the most popular shore excursions sell out months in advance.
- Mediterranean: Book six to 12 months out, especially for summer Mediterranean cruises. Shoulder season (April, May, September, October) offers better pricing and lighter crowds.
- Caribbean: Book three to six months out for the best mix of price and selection. Holiday weeks and spring break book up faster, so plan further ahead for those dates.
- Hawaii: Book nine to 12 months out. Sailings are limited, and demand stays high year-round.
- Northern Europe and the Baltic: Book six to nine months out. The season is short (May through August), and itineraries fill quickly.
- Mexican Riviera: Book three to six months out. Year-round sailings and a steady supply give you flexibility.
- Repositioning cruises: Watch for last-minute deals. These one-way sailings between regions are often the best bargains in cruising for travelers with open schedules.
Aligning your booking window with your destination is one of the easiest ways to balance price, cabin choice and the excursions you actually want.
5. Watch for Major Promo Events and Flash Sales
Some of the best short-notice deals land around major retail holidays. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Memorial Day, Labor Day and end-of-year sales all tend to bring deep discounts on upcoming sailings. October’s "Plan a Cruise Month," promoted industry-wide by the Cruise Lines International Association, is another reliable window for bonus offers. Individual cruise lines also run flash sales tied to anniversary milestones, new ship launches and quieter booking periods.
The catch with flash sales is that they move fast. Sign up for deal alerts from your preferred cruise lines, follow your AAA Travel Agent’s recommendations and keep a shortlist of itineraries you’d jump on if the price dropped. Members who do this homework upfront can act in minutes when a great offer lands.
6. Consider the Season You’re Sailing In
The time of year you sail shapes both your experience and your price. Shoulder season hits after Labor Day or before summer kicks off, bringing warm weather and lighter crowds at prices well below peak. Aim to book four to eight months out to balance price and cabin selection during these windows.
Off-peak sailings deliver the lowest fares of the year, along with perks like dining credits and Wi-Fi. The tradeoffs are fewer itineraries and unpredictable weather, especially during hurricane season from June through November. Booking two to four months out usually works since demand stays low and last-minute cabins tend to open up.
Peak season costs the most but rewards you with prime conditions for snorkeling, whale watching and hiking. It’s also when families can sail together around school holidays. Cabins fill up fastest during these months, so book six to 18 months ahead to lock in the dates and rooms you want.
7. Book Through a AAA Travel Agent
The fastest way to time a cruise booking right is to book with a travel agent who tracks patterns daily. AAA Travel Agents know when each line releases new itineraries, when promo windows open and when prices typically drop. That insider view saves you hours of research and helps you book at the right moment instead of guessing.
Additionally, booking through a AAA Travel Agent is worth it because you’ll unlock perks you won’t find online. Agents access unpublished group rates and exclusive AAA Vacations® amenities that stack with cruise line promotions. They monitor prices after you book and can rebook you at a lower rate if fares drop before final payment. And the service costs you nothing since cruise lines pay the commission.
FAQs
Have additional questions? We have the answers.
How far in advance should I book a cruise?
For the best value and cabin selection, aim to book six to 12 months in advance. If you are eyeing a high-demand itinerary like Alaska or a holiday sailing, bumping that up to 18 months ensures you get the specific deck and room category you want. While last-minute deals exist, booking early locks in early bird perks like lower deposits and onboard credits that often outweigh eleventh-hour discounts.
What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
Typically, the cheapest time to go on a cruise is September, October and early November. This window falls during the peak of hurricane season in the Caribbean and the back-to-school slump when demand from families drops significantly. You can also find deep discounts in January and February (outside of holiday weeks) as cruise lines look to fill ships during the winter lull.
Do cruise prices get cheaper closer to the date?
Sometimes. As a cruise date approaches, if a cruise line has unsold cabins, it may reduce prices to sell them. However, last-minute deals often come with some trade-offs, such as limited cabin choices and higher airfares.
What day of the week do cruise prices drop?
Typically, Tuesday is a great time to check for price drops. Many cruise lines update prices at the beginning of the week, and deals will go live around then. Set alerts to notify you of the best time to buy cruise tickets.
Do cruise prices drop after the final payment?
It’s rare for the public price to drop after the final payment deadline (usually 75–120 days before sailing), but if it does, the cruise line may offer the lower rate only to new bookings. This is why booking through a AAA Travel Agent is so valuable—they can monitor these fluctuations and, if a price drops before your final payment, often get your fare adjusted to the lower rate.
Plan Your Next Cruise With AAA Travel
Finding the best time to book a cruise is an art rooted in predictable patterns. If you consider the above booking factors, you can snag a phenomenal deal.
Booking through AAA Travel makes everything easier. Our packages are designed to fit your unique travel style. Experienced agents help you avoid common mistakes and uncover amenities and perks that most customers don't know to ask for.
AAA memberships come with cruise-specific benefits like onboard credit or exclusive discounts. If you have been waiting for a sign to book that cruise, here it is. Start planning with our trusted agents today.